Curtain-fixture.



PATBNTEU JULY fi?, 190,6.

' UE. WHITMORB. CURTAIN FIXTURE. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 30. 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

El@ Il v///f//f/ 7/ //7//. f j 6 6 7. .n l 1 ,1

. PATENTBD JULYU, 1906. E. E. WHITMORB. CURTAIN FIXTURE. APPLICATIONI FAILED 00T.4 30. 1905.

s SHEETS-SHEET @filial/ 1.14%

ru: NonRls Prrzzxs ca.. wAsmNaraN, la4 cA PATENTBD JULY 17, 1906.

E. E. WHITMORB, CURTAIN FIXTURE.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.30, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

TH: NORM! Plrlks co., wAsHINcTaN, a. r;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD E. WHITMORE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO 'II-IE CURTAIN SUPPLY COMPANY, OF NEWARK, lNEW JERSEY, AND CHI- CAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CURTAIN-FIXTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1906.

Application filed October 30,1905. Serial No. 285,036.

T0 all whom, it mja/y concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. WHIT- MORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Fixtures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to curtain-fixtures of .that type wherein a spring-actuated curtain or shade is provided with a transverselydisposed curtain-stick carrying heads slidable in longitudinal grooves in the sides of the frame or casing, which heads are provided with means for frictionally holding the curtain in any adjusted position against the upward pull of the spring-actuated curtainroller.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved fixture of this type which shall be prompt and certain in its action, selfrighting and easily manipulated, and of simple and economical construction.

To this end my invention resides in a curtain-fixture characterized principally `loy the employment of one or more friction-blocks loosely carried by the head, so as to be capable of a limited movement relatively to the latter, in combination with one or more members Jfixed in and movable relatively to the head engaging an inclined surface or surfaces on said friction-block, whereby to thrust the latter outwardly into frictional engagement with the bottom of the guide-groove upon the upward movement of the fixture.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated three practical forms in which my invention may be embodied.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, through the head and curtain-stick of one form of the device, the same being shown in holding position. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same p'arts in the positions assumed when the curtain is drawn downwardly. Figs. 3 and 4 are views corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, showing a modified form of the invention; and Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views, respectively, showing a still further modification.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, 10 designates the lower left-hand corner portion of a curtain or shade of the usual spring-actuated variety, having near its lower edge a pocket 10a,

carrying the usual tubular curtain-stick 11, within which is mounted a spring-actuated rod 12, carrying at its outer end a hollow channel-shaped head 13, playing in a groove 14 in the side of the casing, said parts being all as usual and customary in curtain-fixtures of this type. The heads 13 are preferably, although not necessarily, equipped with the usual roller-tips 15, which facilitate the selfrighting of the fixture when accidentally canted or inclined, as well understood by those skilled in this art. Loosely mounted in the head 13 on opposite sides of its longitudinal center are a pair of friction-blocks 16, which blocks are retained against displacement by means of inclined slots 17, engaged by pins 18, secured in and between the sides of the head. The rear edges of the frictionblocks are inclined, as shown at 16a, each of said inclined edges being engaged by a pair of rollers 19, mounted in and between the sides of the head behind said friction-blocks. Assuming that the fixture has just been drawn downwardly, bringing the parts into that the curtain is then released, the upward l pull of the curtain carries the head upwardly, causing the rollers 19 to ride upwardly over the inclined rear edge 16a of the upper frictionblock, thereby forcing the latter outwardly into frictional holding engagement with the bottom wall of the groove and quickly arresting the further upward travel of the curtain. The upward movement of the head relatively to thevblock and the outward movement of the latter relatively to the head are permitted by reason of the slot 17 and its inclined position substantially parallel to the inclined edge 16a. When the fixture is drawn downwardly, the rollers 19 move downwardly relatively to the friction-block, thus permitting the head to move bodily outwardly until the roller-tips 1 5 engage the bottom of the groove, as shown in Fig. 2. In the operation of the device the lower friction-block and its actuating means are of course idle, the double arrangement being preferably employed in order to render the head operative when applied either end up.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4 a single friction-block 2() is employed, which extends both above and below the longitudinal center of the head opposite its point of the relative positions shown in Fig. 2, andv IOO Ass

connection tO the actuating-rod. This block is provided with upper and lower slots 21,

' both Of which are inclined in parallel relation upwardly and inwardly relatively tO the head, and engaging pins 22, which always Occupy the same relative positions in the slots. In this construction the same mode and principle of Operation inheres as in the construction Of Fi s. l and 2; but the pins and slots combine t e two functions of` retaining the block within the head while permitting relative movement between said parts and Of forcing the block outwardly into holding engagement with the bottom of the guidegrOOve when the head is drawn upwardly through the cam action of the pins on the Outer inclined sides Of the slots, the double pin-and-slot connections actuating both the upper and lower ends Of the block equally and simultaneously in the same directions. This construction, while not rendering the head operative either end up, affords a more extended frictional holding-surface and one directly opposed to the outward thrust ofthe actuating-spring, as compared with the construction Of Figs. l and 2.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6 combines features of both the forms previously described, in that it lemploys but a single friction-block, as in Figs. 3 and 4, while being double-acting or capable of Operation either end up, as in the construction of Figs. 1 and 2. In this form the block 23, extending both above and below the longitudinal center of the head, is secured against displacement by pins 24 engaging oblong comparatively wide slots 25 in the block, and the rear edge Of the block is formed by two OppOsitely-inclined surfaces 23a, that meet at the center of the block. In the head at its longitudinal center and opposite the attachment of the rod 12 is mounted a block-actuating roller 26, the periphery Of which is adapted tO engage the inclines 23a. When the curtain, after having been drawn down, is released and retracted by the curtain-roller spring, the roller 26 rides upwardly over the incline 23a, thus forcing the friction-block outwardly into holding engagement with the bottom wall Of the ofroove, the pins 24 rising to the upper ends of the Oblong slots 25 during such movement. When the curtain is drawn downwardly, the roller 26 moves to a position directly Opposite the meeting-point of the inclined surface 23a, thus allowing the head to move outwardly and engage the bottom Of the groove through the roller-tips and relievin the frictional hold of the block upon the guidge.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that all Of the several forms Of the invention described and shown are characterized by the employment of a loosely-confined frictionblocli: in the fixture-head having an inclined Or cam surface that cooperates with a mem- -ber bodily movable with the head to force the friction-block outwardly into holding engagement on the rise of the head, while permitting a release Of the frictional holding engagement when the head is drawn downwardly Other forms of the same principle might be employed without departing from the substance Of the invention Or sacrificing any Of the advantages secured thereby.

I claim- 1. In a curtain-fixture, the combination with a curtain-stick and a head carried thereby, Of a friction-block mounted in said head with capacity for both longitudinal and transverse bodily movement relatively tO said head, said friction-block having an inclined surface, and a member carried by the head adapted to ride over said inclined surface and thereby force said friction-block into frictional engagement with the iixtureguide, substantially as described.

2. In a curtain-xture, the combination with a curtain-stick, of a head carried thereby and a friction-block in said head, one of said last-named parts having an inclined slot and a pin carried by the other engaging said slot, whereby relative longitudinal movement between said head and the frictionblock produces a transverse movement of the latter relatively to the head, substantially as described.

3. In a curtain-fixture, the combination with a urtain-stick and a head carried thereby, Of a friction-block having an inclined slot, and a in mounted in and between the side walls of the head and engaging said slot, whereby relative longitudinal movement between said head and friction-block produces a transverse movement of the latter relatively to the head, substantially as described.

4. In a curtain-fixture, the combination with a curtain-stick and a head carried thereby, of a friction-block loosely mounted in said head having an inclined surface, and a roller carried by the head adapted to ride lover said' inclined surface on the upward movement of the :fixture and thereby force said friction-block into frictional engagement with the fixture-guide, substantially as described.

5. In a curtain -fiXture, the combination IOO IIO

IIS

with a curtain-stick and a head carried thereby, of a friction-block having an inclined slot and an inclined inner edge, a pin mounted in and between the side walls of the head and engaging said. slot, and a roller carried by the head adapted to ride over said inclined inner edge of the block on the upward movement of the iiXture, substantially as described.

EDWARD E. WHITMORE. Witnesses:

SAMUEL N. POND, FREDERICK C. GOODWIN. 

